This plant has been collected on Luzon in AlbayProvince on the Mayon Volcano, in BenguetProvince on Mount Santo Tomas, in LagunaProvince on MountMaquiling and in RizalProvince on MountIrid.

On Mindoro this plant has been collected on Mount Halcon and along the Subaan River.

On Mindanao this plant has been collected in Davao del Norte on MountKampalili and in Surigao del Norte on MountKabatuan. Henrik Pedersen noted that both Mindanao identifications are uncertain.

This plant has mostly been collected in mossy forest and always as an epiphyte. Ames wrote (1923) that Juan Serrato found this plant on a tree in dense forest.

The Plants Description

The pseudobulbs cluster on a short to slightly elongate rhizome and are shaped slenderly fusiform. The pseudobulbs measure 1.2-3.3cm long and 0.2-0.4cm in diameter. The pseudobulbs are covered by 3-5 cataphylls while they are growing. The cataphylls soon disintegrate into persistent fibres as the pseudobulbs mature. The leaves are petiolate; the petiole measures 0.4-2.0cm long. The leaf blades are shaped lanceolate and have obtuse apices. The leaf blades measure 2.8-15cm long and 0.5-1.3cm wide.

The Inflorescence

The inflorescence is synanthous. The peduncle is suberect to curved and measures 3.0-17.4cm long. The rachis is pendent and measures 1.8-7.6cm long. The flowers alternate distichously and are spaced 1-1.5mm apart. There are 1-3 appressed non-floriferous bracts at the base of the rachis. The flowers open from the proximal section of the rachis.

The Flowers

Henrik Pedersen (1997) described the flowers as white, green, yellow or brown. Ames wrote (1923) that the flowers were white nearly yellow. The sepals and petals spread widely. The dorsal sepal is shaped lanceolate and has an acuminate apex. The dorsal sepal measures 2.3-4.1mm long and 0.7-1.0mm wide. The dorsal sepal is 3 veined and has entire margins. The lateral sepals are shaped obliquely lanceolate and have subacuminate apices. The lateral sepals measure 2.5-3.8mm long and 0.6-1.1mm wide. The lateral sepals are 3 veined and have entire margins. The petals are shaped lanceolate and have acuminate apices. The petals measure 2.0-3.7mm long and 0.6-0.9mm wide. The petals are 1 veined (rarely 3-veined) and have entire margins. The labellum is porrect and 3-lobed. The labellum measures 0.5-0.7mm long and 1.1-1.4mm wide. The labellum is obscurely 3-veined, sometimes without any distinct veins, glabrous and has entire margins. The side lobes are shaped falcately oblong and have obtuse apices that are distinctly longer than the mid-lobe. The mid-lobe is shaped subreniform, emarginate and has a small apiculum at its apex. There are 3 calli located on the disc, the lateral calli are located at the base of each side-lobe, the median callus is oblongoid and centrally located. The column is suberect to straight and measures 0.5-0.9mm long. The column is somewhat hooded at its apex. Stelidia and column foot are absent.

Flowering plants have been collected in the wild during February, March, from May to July and from September to November.

Culture

This species is uncommonly found in cultivation around the world. This plant has been photographed in cultivation in Australia. Be careful of mis-labelled plants.

Similar Species

Dendrochilum microchilum

Dendrochilum curranii var. curranii

Dendrochilum tenuifolium

Other Information

Oakes Ames reduced Acoridium serratoi to a synonym of Acoridium curranii in 1937. L.O. Williams first described this species under the name of Dendrochilum curranii var. serratoi. Henrik Pedersen agreed with Ames decision that this plant is a variety of curranii.